Angela Cluff explores the pitfalls of modern fundraising and questions if there's a better way to do it.

Few charities start claiming gift aid as soon as they are founded. To get 3 unblemished years, a charity has to have been going for at least 4 years, so why not make it easier all round and say that GASDS is available only to charities that have been running for 5 years and have not been convicted/penalised for fraud ?

Short term thinking at large charities is damaging the sector and causing fundraisers to lose faith with their own profession, says Stephen Lee, professor of nonprofit management at Cass Business School.